Supporter, compressor including the same and refrigerator including the same

ABSTRACT

A supporter comprises a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding in a radial direction from a lower portion toward a center of the body part to fix the body part to a refrigerator; and a hook provided at an upper portion of the body part to fix a compressor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0078318, filed on Jul. 5, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a supporter, a compressor including the same, and a refrigerator including the same.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator is used for storing various items such as food, drinks and the like at low temperatures for a long period of time. For example, the refrigerator unit stores various items in a refrigerator storage compartment or a freezer storage compartment depending on types of items to be stored.

The temperature in the refrigerator is maintained at a set level by supplying cold air generated by a cooling cycle. Therefore, the refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator are disposed in a “machine room” or compartment disposed at one side of the refrigerator and are configured to operate together to supply cold air into the refrigerator storage compartments.

For example, a refrigerant gas in a high-temperature and high-pressure state is compressed by a compressor causing the gas to change state. While the refrigerant gas in the high-temperature and high-pressure state is passing through the condenser, heat of condensation is released to the outside. Then, the refrigerant is vaporized while passing through an expansion valve. The refrigerant absorbs evaporation latent heat from ambient air and changes state again, e.g., it is vaporized by the evaporator. In this manner, cold air is generated.

However, when the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor of the refrigerator, intense vibration occurs. When the vibration of the compressor is transferred to other components of the refrigerator, those components may become damaged, which may result in unit breakdown. Therefore, techniques for reducing this vibration of the compressor are advantageous.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a supporter capable of reducing vibration of a compressor, the compressor including the supporter, and a refrigerator including the compressor outfitted with the supporter.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a supporter comprising: a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding in a radial direction from a lower portion toward a center of the body part to affix the body part to a refrigerator; and a hook provided at an upper portion of the body part to affix to a compressor.

The hook may include: a hook body protruding from the upper portion of the body part; and a hook head protruding horizontally from the hook body.

An insertion space communicating with the main space may be formed below the main space, the fixing part may be formed to surround the insertion space, and an upper surface of an end portion of the fixing part may be flat.

A cutoff portion extending from the outside to the insertion space may be formed at the fixing part so that a fixing pin is inserted from the outside.

The body part, the fixing part, and the hook may be formed as one continuous body and formed as an elastic member.

An auxiliary space communicating with the main space may be formed above the main space, and the hook may be formed to surround the auxiliary space.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a compressor comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant vaporized by an evaporator; a support member configured to support the compressor and having a fixing hole; and a supporter configured to affix the support member to a refrigerator, wherein the supporter includes: a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding horizontally from a lower portion to a center of the body part; and a hook provided at an upper portion of the body part and selectively inserted into the fixing hole.

There may be provided a plurality of supporters, the support member may be provided with fixing holes into which the plurality of supporters is inserted, the number of the fixing holes being greater than or equal to the number of the supporters, at least a part of fixing parts of the plurality of supporters may be provided with a cutoff portion extending from the outside to the insertion space so that a fixing pin is inserted from the outside, the plurality of supporters provided with the cutoff portions may be arranged such that the cutoff portions face different directions.

The fixing part may include a hook body protruding from an upper portion of the body; a hook head protruding horizontally outward from the hook body, and the support member is selectively interposed between the upper portion of the body part and the hook head and connected to the supporter.

In accordance with still another embodiment, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: an evaporator configured to cool air by absorbing heat of the air by a vaporizing refrigerant; a compressor to which the refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator is sent; and a frame configured to support the compressor, wherein the compressor includes: a compression device configured to compress the refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator; a support member having a fixing hole and configured to support the compression device; and a supporter configured to fix the support member to the frame, wherein the supporter includes: a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding from a lower portion toward a center of the body part; and a hook provided at an upper portion of the body part and selectively inserted into the fixing hole.

The frame may include: an installation member; and a fixing pin, wherein the fixing pin includes: a pin main body protruding from the installation member; and a pin head protruding horizontally from the pin body, wherein the supporter is fixed to the frame by selectively interposing the fixing part between the pin head and the installation member.

The fixing pin may have a protruding length that does not allow the fixing pin to penetrate through the insertion space and the main space.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, the supporter can reduce transfer of any vibration of the compressor to other components of the refrigerator.

Further, embodiments of the present invention are operable to reduce damage or breakdown of refrigerator components due to compressor vibrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a compressor and a supporter of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the compressor and the supporter of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a supporter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view (side cross sectional view) taken along a line B-B of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view (horizontal cross sectional view) taken along a line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the technical aspects of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, in describing the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions that may obscure the disclosure may be omitted.

When it is said that a component is “connected”, “supplied” or “transmitted” to another component, it should be understood that the former component may be directly connected, supplied, or transmitted to the latter component or a third component may be interposed between the two components.

Specific terms used in the present application are used simply to describe specific embodiments without limiting the disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

Further, in the present specification, the terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “side” and the like refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Such terms can be differently expressed when a direction of a target is changed. For the same reason, some components in the drawings are exaggerated, omitted or schematically illustrated, and the size of each component does not exactly reflect its actual size.

In the present specification, the term “including” specifies the presence of specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components.

Hereinafter, specific configurations of a compressor having a supporter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a refrigerator including the compressor will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cooling unit including an evaporator 30, a compressor 40, and a condenser 50, and a frame 60 for partially fixing the cooling unit.

A high-temperature refrigerant gas that has exchanged heat with ambient air in the evaporator 30 is sent to the compressor 40 and compressed by the compressor 40. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 40 is liquefied while passing through the condenser 50 and releases heat of condensation to the outside. The liquefied refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 50 is sent to the evaporator 30. The liquefied refrigerant sent to the evaporator 30 absorbs ambient heat while being vaporized due to heat exchange with the ambient air. The heat is transferred from the ambient air to the liquefied refrigerant of the evaporator 30, and the liquefied refrigerant of the evaporator 30 is completely or partially converted into a gaseous refrigerant. Thereafter, the gaseous refrigerant is separated from the liquid refrigerant and flows into the compressor 40 again. In the evaporator 30, the refrigerant absorbs heat of the air outside the evaporator 30. The evaporator 30 cools air in the refrigerator by the above-described and well known heat transfer process. In this cooling process, the condenser 50 releases the heat of the refrigerant to the outside in accordance with well known techniques.

The refrigerant can be taken up by the compressor 40 and compressed to a refrigerant in a high-temperature and high-pressure state. The refrigerant taken up by the compressor 40 may be a refrigerant gas in a low-temperature and low-pressure state. The compressor 40 may be configured in different manners, for instance, as a reciprocating compressor for compressing a refrigerant by reciprocating movement of a piston, or a rotary compressor for compressing a refrigerant by rotating a rotor in a cylinder, or a turbo compressor for compressing a refrigerant by converting velocity energy to pressure energy by using centrifugal force of an impeller, or the like. Any of these well known compressor designs can be used in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the compressor 40 may include a compression device such as a pump (not shown), a housing 42, a support member 43 and a supporter 45. The compression device can compress the refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator. The compression device may include a number of different variations of driving force, for instance, it may include a driving unit such as a piston, a cylinder, a motor, and the like, and may include also a compression space for compressing the refrigerant. The housing 42 can cover the compression device and support the compression device.

The support member 43 can be connected to the supporter 45 to support the compression device. A fixing hole 43 a into which the supporter 45 is inserted and fixed may be formed at the support member 43. A plurality of fixing holes 43 a may be provided. The number of the fixing holes 43 a may be equal to or greater than the number of the supporters 45. In the drawing of the present embodiment, the support member 43 is provided as a part of the housing 42 of the compressor 40. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Thus, the support member 43 may be connected to a frame that can be provided in the compressor 40, or may be provided as a separate member coupled to the housing or to the frame, for example. Because the support member 43 is connected to the supporter 45, the support 45 will be described further with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the supporter 45 may be provided between the frame 60 and the support member 43 of the compressor 40. The support body 45 may include a body part 100, a fixing part 200, and a hook 300.

The body part 100 may have therein a main space S1. The body part 100 may surround the sides of the main space S1. Further, the body part 100 may have a horizontal cross section having a substantially circular shape. The body part 100 can extend in a vertical direction. When the supporter 45 is engaged with the support member 43, the upper end portion of the body part 100 can be brought into contact with the lower surface of the support member 43. The body part 100 may have a flat upper end portion to make stable contact with the support member 43. The main space S1 may have a circular shape when viewed from above. When the support body 45 is fastened to the frame 60, the main space S1 can be surrounded by an inner circumferential surface of the body part 100, and an upper surface and a circumferential surface of a pin head 62 b of the fixing pin 62 which will be described later.

The fixing part 200 may be provided at the lower portion of the body part 100 to fix the body part 100 to the frame 60 of the refrigerator. The fixing part 200 may protrude horizontally from the lower end portion of the body part 100 toward the center of the supporter 45. Further, the fixing part 200 may have therein an insertion space S2 into which the fixing pin 62 is inserted. For example, the fixing part 200 may protrude toward the center in a radial direction of the insertion space S2 to form a circular insertion space S2 when viewed from above. The insertion space S2 can be defined as a space surrounded by the circumferential surface of the inner end portion of the fixing part 200. The insertion space S2 may be disposed below the main space S1 and can communicate with the main space S1. The insertion space S2 may have a circular shape when viewed from above.

The fixing part 200 may have a flat lower surface to make even contact with an installation member 61 of the frame 60. The inner end portion of the fixing part 200 may have a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction. The upper surface of the inner end portion of the fixing part 200 may be flat to allow stable contact with the pin head 62 b of the fixing pin 62. The supporter 45 can be fixed to the support member 43 by interposing the fixing part 200 between the pin head 62 b and the installation member 61.

By selectively inserting the hook 300 into the fixing hole 43 a, the supporter 45 can be affixed to the support member 43. The hook 300 may be provided at the upper portion of the body part 100 and have an upwardly protruding shape. The hook 300 may have therein an auxiliary space S3. The auxiliary space S3 can be defined as a space surrounded by the hook 300. The auxiliary space S3 may be disposed above the main space S1 and can communicate with the main space S1. Due to the presence of the auxiliary space S3, when the hook 300 is inserted into the fixing hole 43 a, the elastic deformation of the hook 300 becomes easier. The auxiliary space S3 may have a circular shape when viewed from above. Further, the auxiliary space S3 may have a horizontal cross section having the same area as that of the insertion space S2.

The hook 300 may include a hook body 310 protruding upward from the upper end portion of the body part 100 and a hook head 320 protruding horizontally outward from the hook body 310.

The hook body 310 may have a cylindrical shape. The diameter of the hook body 310 may be equal to that of the fixing hole 43 a. The hook body 310 has a protruding length that allows the lower surface of the hook head 320 to be in contact with the upper surface of the support member 43 and the upper end portion of the body part 100 to be in contact with the support member 43 when the supporter 45 is engaged with the support member 43.

The hook head 320 may have a flat lower surface to make stable contact with the upper surface of the support member 43. The upper surface of the hook head 320 may be inclined downward toward the horizontally outer side such that the thickness dimension thereof becomes thinner in the horizontally outward direction. By selectively interposing the support member 43 between the lower surface of the hook head 320 and the upper portion of the body part 100, the support member 43 can be connected to the supporter 45.

In one embodiment, the body part 100, the fixing part 200, and the hook 300 may be formed as one continuous member and may be formed as an elastic member.

A cutoff portion 400 extending from the insertion space S2 to the outside of the fixing part 200 may be formed at the supporter 45. The fixing pin 62 can be inserted into the insertion space S2 through the cutoff portion 400. The cutoff portion 400 can extend in the vertical direction from the fixing part 200 to the hook 300 via the body part 100. Since the cutoff portion 400 extends to the hook 300, the supporter 45 can be easily inserted into the fixing hole 43 a. The main space S1, the insertion space S2, and the auxiliary capacity S3 can be opened horizontally through the cutoff portion 400.

As described above, there may be provided a plurality of supporters 45. The plurality of supports 45 can be respectively inserted into the fixing holes 43 a of the plurality of support members 43. Further, the plurality of supporters 45 may be arranged such that the cutoff portions 400 face different directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the compressor 40 includes four supporters 45, a cutoff portion of an upper left supporter 45 is disposed at an upper left side; a cutoff portion of an upper right supporter 45 is disposed at an upper right side; a cutoff portion of a lower left supporter 45 is disposed at a lower left side; and a cutoff portion of a lower right supporter 45 is disposed at a lower right side. In other words, the supporters 45 facing each other can be arranged such that the cutoff portions 400 thereof face each other or face different directions. Since the cutoff portions 400 face different directions, it is possible to prevent the support members 43 and the fixing pins 62 from being separated through the cutoff portions 400 from vibration of the compressor 40.

Advantageously, the supporter 45 can effectively prevent vibration from the compression device from being transferred to the frame 60 of the refrigerator 1 and effectively reduce noise that may be generated between the compressor 40 and the frame 60.

The frame 60 can fix the compressor 40 of the cooling unit. The frame 60 may include an installation member 61 and a fixing pin 62. The installation member 61 may include a plate, a bar, a beam, or the like. The fixing pin 62 may be provided at the attachment member 61.

The fixing pins 62 can be inserted into the insertion space S2 and engaged with the fixing part 200. The fixing pin 62 may be sufficiently long to allow the fixing pin 62 to penetrate through the insertion space S2 and not allow the fixing pint 62 to penetrate through the main space S1 and the auxiliary space S3. The fixing pin 62 may include a pin body 62 a protruding from the mounting member 61, and a pin head 62 b protruding horizontally outward from the end portion of the pin body 62 a. The pin body 62 a may have a cylindrical shape. The pin body 62 a may be configured such that the distance between the lower surface of the pin head 62 b and the mounting member 61 is equal to the vertical thickness of the fixing part 200. The lower surface of the pin head 62 b can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the fixing part 200. The pin head 62 b may have a circular shape when viewed from above. Further, the pin head 62 b may be provided at the upper end portion of the pin body 62 a.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the above-described embodiments are merely examples and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be construed that the embodiments have the full range of the basic spirit disclosed herein. Further, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can implement a pattern of a shape not mentioned herein by combining and substituting the embodiments disclosed herein. Further, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the embodiments disclosed herein based on the description, and such changes or modifications should fall within the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A supporter comprising: a body part comprising therein a main space; a fixing part protruding in a radial direction from a lower portion of the body part toward a center of the body part, said fixing part operable to affix the body part to a refrigerator; and a hook disposed at an upper portion of the body part to affix a compressor.
 2. The supporter of claim 1, wherein the hook comprises: a hook body protruding from the upper portion of the body part; and a hook head protruding horizontally from the hook body.
 3. The supporter of claim 1, wherein an insertion space communicating with the main space is formed below the main space, wherein the fixing part surrounds the insertion space, and wherein an upper surface of an end portion of the fixing part is flat.
 4. The supporter of claim 3, wherein a cutoff portion extending from an outside to the insertion space is formed at the fixing part, the cutoff portion configured that a fixing pin is inserted into the insertion space through the cutoff portion from the outside.
 5. The supporter of claim 1, wherein the body part, the fixing part, and the hook are formed as one continuous body and are further formed as an elastic member.
 6. The supporter of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary space communicating with the main space is formed above the main space, and wherein the hook surrounds the auxiliary space.
 7. A compressor comprising: a compression device configured to compress a refrigerant vaporized by an evaporator; at least one of a support member configured to support the compression device and comprising a fixing hole; and a supporter configured to affix said at least one of the support member to a refrigerator, wherein the supporter comprises: a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding horizontally from a lower portion to a center of the body part; and a hook disposed at an upper portion of the body part and operable to be inserted into the fixing hole.
 8. The compressor unit of claim 7, wherein said at least one of the support member comprises fixing holes into which the plurality of supporters is inserted, and wherein a number of the fixing holes is greater than or equal to the number of the plurality of supporters, wherein at least a part of fixing parts of the plurality of supporters is provided with a cutoff portion extending from an outside to the insertion space to allow a fixing pin to be inserted from the outside, and wherein the plurality of supporters provided with the cutoff portions is arranged wherein the cutoff portions face different directions.
 9. The compressor of claim 7, wherein the fixing part comprises: a hook body protruding from an upper portion of the body part; a hook head protruding horizontally outward from the hook body, and wherein said at least one of the support member is selectively interposed between the upper portion of the body part and the hook head and coupled to the supporter.
 10. A refrigerator comprising: an evaporator configured to cool air by heat absorption from vaporizing refrigerant; a compressor to which vaporized refrigerant is sent; and a frame configured to support the compressor, wherein the compressor comprises: a compression device configured to compress refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator; at least one of a support member having a fixing hole and configured to support the compression device; and a supporter configured to affix said at least one of the support member to the frame, wherein the supporter comprises: a body part having therein a main space; a fixing part protruding from a lower portion toward a center of the body part; and a hook disposed at an upper portion of the body part and operable to be selectively inserted into the fixing hole.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises: an installation member; and a fixing pin, wherein the fixing pin comprises: a pin main body protruding from the installation member; and a pin head protruding horizontally from the pin main body, wherein the supporter is affixed to the frame by selectively interposing the fixing part between the pin head and the installation member.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the fixing pin has a protruding length that restricts the fixing pin from penetrating through the insertion space and the main space. 